JOY RAN TO HER bathroom digging her hands into her mouth as she vomited all the food she had taken,she did it again and again till she had nothing left to vomit,she started crying looking at herself in the mirror she couldn't help but agree with them that she's definitely ugly

"Lord just take my life"she muttered and decided to leave her room before her Nana finds out what happened

She rush out of the bathroom wiping the tears from her eyes and she took her school bag leaving the house without telling Ruth who is in the kitchen tidying it,she went out into her compound and found her driver waiting for her,she climbed the car placing her earpiece on her ear before the car was ignited roaring to life as they drive out of the compound

School became visible than she expected and soon enough they were inside the school compound,she stepped out of the car walking away without acknowledging her driver which the driver found odd because normally Joy will spent five minutes talking to him after dropping her and that made the elderly man to love the girl the more

She went inside her class and sat down since her friends haven't arrived yet and started crying as she placed her head on her desk

"Hello girlfriend!"Bisi said in a cheerful voice,Joy raised up her head to look at her friend with dull eyes

"What's wrong girlie?"Bisi asked and Joy broke out into more tears

"I want to die Bisi,I really wanna die, nobody loves me or care about me I know I'm fat and ugly but why can't people leave me alone like that,why can't they let me be happy or is happiness for only beautiful people!"Joy said crying and lamenting

"Oh my! What happened? Please don't cry and you know I'm here for you"Bisi said hugging Joy as she cries the more,she suddenly excuse herself running into the ladies bathroom as she try vomiting but nothing comes out,she felt sick and started heaving as she feels her energy draining

She washed her hands cleaning her face as she walk back into the class to see Bisi and Anna exchanging greetings

"Babe yesterday was fun!"Anna said ignorant of what's happening

"Definitely!"Joy said trying to laugh but ended up faking a smile

"I saw the pictures on my Instagram you girls are pure devils why didn't you invite me"Bisi said glaring at them while Anna chuckled

"It's not how it seems Bisi,it was all Jonah's Idea,he wanted to go out jogging with me then James wanted to follow us which we agreed then we called Joy out when we were in her street to join us"Anna said shrugging

"Well that's not bad since I'm living few street away"Bisi said and look at Joy "how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine now"Joy said faking another smile

"Are you sick?"Anna asked

"No I'm not,I'm just tired"Joy lied and Anna nodded,they all departed and went back to their seats

Desmond was already in school sitting in his is usual seat as Anna sat down

"Morning beautiful!"Desmond said leaning into Anna's ear

"Morning,how was your night?"Anna asked

"Good I think"Desmond replied and Anna's eyes landed on Dami who was glaring at them,Anna swallowed and face the other side while the teacher entered the class

***********

The bell was rang for break period Anna and her friends left the premises to have their break

"What do you wanna eat?"Anna asked her friends,she wanted to get the lunch for her friends

"Coconut rice is okay for me with chivita"Bisi said shrugging while Joy looked away

"I'm not hungry"Joy said and Anna's anger grew

"You're not hungry? Joy what's wrong with you nowadays?, You rarely reject food"Anna said and Joy stood up without replying walking out of the cafeteria

"Don't! Let her be"Bisi stopped Anna when she tried to run after her

Joy continue walking hastily not minding where she was heading to as she wipe away the tears that fell freely from her eyes,she suddenly mistakenly hit a wall and  hands wrapped around her making her know she actually hits someone not a wall

"Joy? What's wrong with you?"Jonah asked and Joy swallowed looking embarrassed that she was caught crying by Jonah

"It's nothing"she replied chuckling dryly as she wiped away the tears that  roll down her cheeks

"It's something Joy"Jonah said holding her left hand as he guide her further away from the cafeteria

They stopped at the back of the building of the school old abandoned laboratory,there was an abandoned chair at the back of the laboratory,Jonah guided Joy to sit on it

"What's wrong with you?"Jonah asked with worries lacing his voice while Joy's heart skipped and she looked away "you can trust me Joy I wouldn't tell a soul"he said and Joy smiled

"I'm too fat right?"Joy asked and Jonah gave her a ounce over

"You're alright"Jonah said and Joy smiled

"I'm being bullied Jonah and I don't know who is my bully,I don't know if the person is one or more but I'm sent different messages on my WhatsApp with the person letting me know how ugly I look with my body"Joy said and she felt her heart tightened

"Do your friends know about this?"Jonah asked after a thoughtful moment of silence

"No I only told them the one that happened in Jss3"Joy said remaining quiet and something suddenly went through her brain "you remember the first and last time we had a lengthy talk in JSS3 that was when it a started,I went back home and met such message"Joy added and Jonah nodded understandingly

"Joy"he called softly and Joy look into his beautiful eyes,it was so captivating that it held Joy in place,she knew the love she had for Jonah she can never have it for someone else "I think you shouldn't let things like this get to you and you're not fat"Jonah said and a flicker of hope shune through Joy,she had always wanted to hear this from Jonah and now that she did she felt like she had a reason to hope for life

"What should I do Jonah,words gets to me easily,it's one of my weak spot"Joy told Jonah softly

"Let me help you"Jonah said

"Why?"Joy asked because everything seemed rushed, someone who had been ignoring her after their first and memorable chat in Jss3 suddenly coming back to help her,it felt weird

"I don't know"Jonah said shrugging placing his hands on his side pocket "I just felt that urgency to help you"he said and Joy stood up looking up to look at him,Joy can't deny that Jonah was really taller than her and she have to look up to get a glimpse of his face

"Thank you"Joy said earnestly and Jonah smiled revealing his dimples,he holds Joy's hand pulling her into a hug and Joy chuckled it felt so unreal

"Friends?"Jonah asked stretching his right hand after releasing the hug

"Friends"Joy replied shining all her teeth and she was happy atleast they made a step,Joy decided to return back to her friends "I should probably go back,they might get worried"Joy said and Jonah nodded

"Can we keep this between us,I don't want Anna finding out we become friends"Jonah said and Joy looked confused

"Why?"she asked

"Will you?"Jonah asked not leaving room for arguement

"Yes"Joy replied ready to sacrifice anything for the new development between her and Jonah if it's about Keeping secret from her friends then she will willingly do it

"Thank you"Jonah said and turned around walking away from Joy without a good bye

Joy felt light and happy and she was glad she had Jonah around,she went back to her class since break was over and she met her friends in their seat and she sat down on hers

"You look cheerful"Ayo commented and Joy smiled

"Jonah finally noticing me"she said and Ayo smiled widely at her genuinely happy for her

************

The school came to an end again and Anna groan knowing she had a class with Dami,she planned on buying wafer biscuits before receiving her class for the day,she left her class and someone mistakenly landed on her and books flied everywhere

"I'm so sorry"she heard a small melodic voice said and she kneel down helping the fellow to get her books

"I'm so sorry"the lady repeated once again,Anna finally got to see the beautiful girls face and she was chocolate in complexion with rich and flawless skin,she had a cheeky smile and she looks small

"Which class are you in?"Anna asked out of curiosity

"SS2"the girl replied chuckling "I'm one of the scholarship students and I'm a science student"The girl said and an 'ow' left Anna's mouth now she knew why she didn't recognize the fellow

"Martha,you?"the girl said and Anna smiled

"Anna, Johanna"She said and the girl nodded

"See you around"she said and Anna nodded

"See you around"

Anna turned around to meet Dami standing at the class entrance looking at them but Martha was too far gone to take a note of that

"I'm ready"Anna chirped

"What's her name?"Dami asked and Anna was confused for awhile before she got to know who Dami was talking about

"Martha"Anna said and Dami nodded,Anna wondered while he asked about her but shrugged thinking it's non of her business

*****************

Dami was busy talking to Anna with his attention on his book while Anna's attention was on him,every word that sprung out of Dami's mouth fell into deaf ears

"How is your family?"Anna asked out of the blues making Dami go rigid,he slowly raise up his head to meet Anna who only shrugged

"You know I'm teaching you?"Dami asked

"Yes but I'm just curious,who your family are"she said and shrugged again "I want to know more about you"

"Better keep your curiosity in check and focus on the only thing that get us together"Dami said sternly hurting Anna's ego,she had already start to believe somehow they will become friends but it seems it's not going to happen any time soon

"I didn't ask anything wrong"Anna pestered and shrugged making Dami grew angrier

"What's your problem with my life!"Dami said at once regretting signing up to tutor her

"I just want to be your friend"Anna said dismissively,she couldn't believe herself that she actually said that and her mind wandered to Joy,she shuddered thinking she's acting more like her the very thing she despised

"And I don't want to be yours!"Dami said angrily standing up leaving her alone in the class,a lone tear escaped her eyes and she couldn't farlie the undying reason she wants to get close with the new student she knew nothing about but she thought her curiousity was getting better than her and swore to reveal Dami's secret by knowing who is family are

She stood up and packed her stuffs waiting for Mr Yemisi to get her home